Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for 83272 — Saint Charles, ID

ZIP code 83272 (Saint Charles, Bear Lake County) is in USDA zone 5a: the coldest winter night averages −20 to −15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 19 and the first fall frost September 21.

Where ZIP 83272 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone5a−20 to −15 °F
Coldest night−28.9 to −26.1 °C
Last frostMay 19
First frostSep 21
2012 zone4b

Was 4b on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 5a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Saint Charles, ID…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Saint Charles, ID

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 19median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 5only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 21median — 10% chance by Sep 5
Growing season123 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 3 and returns around October 3.

From the NOAA station Lifton Pumping Stn, ID — 4 miles away, elevation 5,935 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in 83272

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 28
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 28 – May 12
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
TomatoesTransplant · May 26 – Jun 9
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 2 – Jun 16
BeansSow outdoors · May 26 – Jun 9
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 26 – Jun 9
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 26 – Jun 9
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Jul 27 – Aug 10
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 7 – Oct 12
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 19) and first fall frost (Sep 21) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 83272 came on Apr 1 — 24 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 25).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Soil in Saint Charles, ID

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 83272 is Bear Lake — slightly decomposed plant material, poorly drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH5.0strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter75%high
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classPrime farmland if irrigated and drainedUSDA classification

Map unit: Bear Lake-Bear Lake, ponded complex, 0 to 1 percent slopes.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 83272; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Saint Charles, ID

Summer high81 °Faverage high, July
Winter low8 °Faverage low, January
Hot days5days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights202nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,470base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 15 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 06 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation11.3 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall37 inper year; 107 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 29 °F, low 8 °F 29°8° JanFebruary: average high 31 °F, low 8 °F 31°8° FebMarch: average high 40 °F, low 18 °F 40°18° MarApril: average high 50 °F, low 29 °F 50°29° AprMay: average high 61 °F, low 38 °F 61°38° MayJune: average high 71 °F, low 45 °F 71°45° JunJuly: average high 81 °F, low 51 °F 81°51° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 48 °F 80°48° AugSeptember: average high 70 °F, low 39 °F 70°39° SepOctober: average high 56 °F, low 30 °F 56°30° OctNovember: average high 41 °F, low 20 °F 41°20° NovDecember: average high 30 °F, low 10 °F 30°10° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″January: 0.80 in precipitation, 9.1 in snowfall 0.8❄9 JanFebruary: 0.82 in precipitation, 8.8 in snowfall 0.8❄9 FebMarch: 0.83 in precipitation, 4.1 in snowfall 0.8❄4 MarApril: 1.09 in precipitation, 2.7 in snowfall 1.1❄3 AprMay: 1.80 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 1.8 MayJune: 0.92 in precipitation 0.9 JunJuly: 0.57 in precipitation 0.6 JulAugust: 0.76 in precipitation 0.8 AugSeptember: 1.09 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 1.1 SepOctober: 1.10 in precipitation, 1.1 in snowfall 1.1❄1 OctNovember: 0.76 in precipitation, 4.1 in snowfall 0.8❄4 NovDecember: 0.75 in precipitation, 7.2 in snowfall 0.8❄7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Lifton Pumping Stn, ID (4 mi away); precipitation: Lifton Pumping Stn, ID (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

2 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

832235a
Bloomington, ID · 6 mi
832875b
Fish Haven, ID · 6 mi
832335a
Dingle, ID · 8 mi
832615a
Paris, ID · 9 mi
840285a
Garden City, UT · 11 mi
840385b
Laketown, UT · 15 mi
832205a
Bern, ID · 17 mi
832545a
Montpelier, ID · 19 mi

Idaho planting zones →

Questions about 83272

What planting zone is ZIP code 83272?

ZIP code 83272 (Saint Charles, ID) is in USDA hardiness zone 5a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −20 to −15 °F (−28.9 to −26.1 °C).

When is the last frost in Saint Charles, ID?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 83272 is May 19; after June 5 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lifton Pumping Stn station.

When is the first frost in Saint Charles, ID?

The median first fall frost near 83272 is September 21, giving a median frost-free growing season of 123 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 83272?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 24 – Apr 7 and set transplants outside around May 26 – Jun 9, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 83272 get?

About 11.3 inches of precipitation a year and 37 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lifton Pumping Stn station).

How hot do summers get in Saint Charles, ID?

The average high peaks at 81 °F in July, with about 5 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 83272 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Bear Lake at the center of ZIP 83272: slightly decomposed plant material, poorly drained, pH about 5.0 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Saint Charles, ID in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 83272 came on Apr 1 in 2026, 24 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 25), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Saint Charles, ID?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 83272 is 15 h 15 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

Did the zone for 83272 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 83272 in zone 4b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 5a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.